WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thursday, April 19 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA), through its Diversity & Inclusion Committee, published today the following value statement on diversity & inclusion.
The Higher Education Video Game Alliance’s mission to support higher education in video games through information-sharing, resource development, and community engagement is underpinned by a commitment to openness and inclusion. We continue to work to foster inclusion and champion equity. HEVGA strives to increase dialogue and listening opportunities within our communities. We are committed to active intervention when members face discrimination, harassment, or other forms of exclusion. We will advocate for students, faculty, administrators, programs, and institutions as well as affiliates who are disadvantaged based on race, gender, class, ability, sexuality, religion, nationality, and migration status.
One of HEVGA’s primary goals is to work to expand the narrow understanding of the culture of games and game playing, recognizing the importance of access and inclusion for all. Historical and contemporary trends in games construct a limited stereotype of what defines a “gamer,” and renders invisible the nuance within communities who make and play games. Across the games industry, media, politics, academia, and game communities, this distorted and limited sense of gamer identities results in the erasure or minimization of many active participants who fail to fit the falsely assumed norm. We seek to challenge the current status quo that grants privilege and access to those from specific backgrounds by working against the exclusion of the diverse practices of gamers, game makers, and games scholars.
HEVGA values varied perspectives, approaches, and experiences. We are committed to creating a culture that welcomes and supports all people. To facilitate this, we commit to fostering inclusion by:
• Participating in conversations and public debates to advocate for the interests of our members in all their diversity, by doing our part to ensure that important moments of potential dialogue do not result in silence.
• Conducting and sharing research on the history and current context of games education to reveal enduring problems and move toward positive ends.
• Creating spaces to support and promote the games work of members from a rich diversity of backgrounds, traditions, and cultures.
• Listening to our membership through email communication with the Diversity & Inclusion Committee co-chairs, regular open meetings with the committee, and the establishment of an online community amongst the membership to help facilitate dialogue and discussion as we develop safe spaces for diversity in games and higher education.
• Acting to amplify under-represented and marginalized voices through forums, advocacy, and help with professional development.
See our committees page for a list of Diversity & Inclusion Committee members. To contact the co-chairs, email Alison Harvey and Phill Alexander.